This blog post is credited to Charles Spurgeon‘s “The Risen King: 40-day Devotions Before Easter”, edited by J.A. Medders, published by The Good Book Company.
This devotional book was recently gifted to me by a good friend and it’s quite powerful! Although written for the 40 days prior to Easter, it could be read at any time with much benefit to anyone desiring to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus by adding this to daily Bible reading. What follows is the Day 18 entry in its entirety:
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.‘ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her’.”
Luke 10:38-42
The one thing necessary is what Mary chose – that good portion which should not be taken away from her. Very clearly this was to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear his word. If anything is plain at all in Holy Scripture, it is evident that this is the one thing we need: to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear his word. This and nothing less: this and nothing more.
We are always to be learners and lovers of Jesus. Never let departure from him and independence of him be named among you. It is weakness, sickness, sin, and sorrow for a believer to leave the Lord and become either their own leader or reliance. We are only safe while we remain humbly and gladly ready to obey him. Jesus Christ is a monopolizer of human hearts; he will never accept just one part of our person. He bought us altogether, and he will have the whole of our personality. Christ must be everything, or he will be nothing. Christ must be first to us. We do not love Christ if we love anything as well as Christ. And neither do we trust Christ if we trust in anything besides. Christ must reign alone. ‘Jesus only’ must be the motto of our spirits. It is good for us, therefore, that only one thing is necessary, for only one thing is possible. And from this one blessing flow many blessings.
To sit at Jesus’ feet means holiness, for those who learn of Jesus learn no sin but are instructed in lovely things and things of good repute. It brings strength, for they who sit with Jesus and feed upon him are girded with his strength. It means zeal, for the love of Christ fires hearts that live upon it, and they that are much in the company of Jesus become like Jesus, so that the zeal of the Lord’s house burns hot within them. So, when we say that sitting at Jesus’ feet is the one thing necessary, we have not uttered a mere truism; it encompasses a world of blessings.
Christian, it is necessary for you today to have communion with Christ. Do not think of it as only indispensable tomorrow – it is needed now. There are dangers you cannot see which can only be warded off by present and immediate fellowship with Christ. ‘One thing is necessary.’ However much you advance, O believer, you never advance beyond this. Whatever your experience or your information or your ripeness for glory, it is still necessary to sit at Jesus’ feet. You shall never get into a higher class in the school of wisdom than the class which Christ teaches. It is always necessary – every moment necessary – that we sit at Jesus’ feet.
REFLECT: Is anything distracting you from sitting at Jesus’ feet? What could you do to enjoy Christ’s presence more?
PRAY: Lord, help me to sit at your feet today, tomorrow, and all of my days. Communion with you is my greatest need, reward, and joy. Show me what is hindering me from unhurried fellowship with you. I’m ready to sit at your feet. In your name, Jesus. Amen.”
Eyes2C 